CONTINUED SUCCESS OF FRENCH OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 9

CONTINUED SUCCESS OF FRENCH OFFENSIVE

MORE GUNS CAPTURED HEAVY GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS ON FRENCH , FRONT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). , London, April 19. A French communique states: Thors was artillery action during the night in the sections of Sapigneul, Lβ Godat, and La Pompelle. Wo continued our successes at the Moronvillers massif. In the Champagne our attacks were everywhere successful. Wo captured Highmount and several heights east, including Hill 227 on the outskirts of South Moronvillers. We captured ; two more German batteries. Twelve new German divisions have been identified on the Soissons-Aube-rive front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As's'ij.-Iteuter. VIOLENT COUNTER-ATTACK BY THE ENEMY BEATEN BACK. The High Commissioner reports:— . ........' • London, April 19,3.25 p.m. A French official report states: Southward and Eouth-westward of St. Quentin there has been great mutual artillery action. Patrol encounters have occurred on the borders of the high forest at Coucy. ' Between the Aisne and Chemin-des-Dames, wo hare progressed northward of Vailly and Ostel. An enemy attack in the region of Courtecon was arrested by our. machine-gun's." . ...... . The Germans at 6 o'clock yesterday violently attacked the plateau Veauclere, and.weremown down by our fire , ; the .waves of the assault were thrown back, and were - unable- to reach our lines./• • .. . ..: On Moronvillers Height our attacks were successful everywhere. THREE VILLAGES AND A FORTIFIED TRENCH SYSTEM CAPTURED ADDITIONAL FIVE HUNDRED PRISONERS SECURED BY ■ •■ THE FRENCH. .(Rec 1 . April 20, 6.30 p.m.) . London, April 19. A French communique Etates: Between the Somme and the Oise there was lively artillcrying. . The enemy north of the Aisne, under vigorous pressure, continued to retreat towards Chemin-des-Dames. Wβ occupied the villages of Aizy, Jouy, and Laffaux, and captured Fort de Conde. We maintain close contact with'the enemy, and captured, after a sharp action, a strong point north of Hurtebise, taking 500 prisoners and two guns. We greatly progressed west of Bermiercourt. There was a most violent artillery duel in the Champagne. On the Moronvillers massif we extended our positions north of. Montbaut, and repulsed two counter-attacks. We brilliantly carried a strongly fortified trench system on a front" of two kilometres, connecting Auberive woods with Moronvillers, and drove back the enemy towards the southern outskirts of Vaudesincourt. The artillery is active left of the Meuse in the direction of Mort Homme.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. . . GERMAN ACCOUNT OF THE FRENCH ATTACK. ■ v London, April 19. A German official wireless message states: French Army Orders found indicate the far-reaching objects of their attack on the 16th which failed. The French only approximately attained their taotical aims, to say nothing> of their strategic objects. •■ , The French attack on the night of tho 17th-18th near Brayo succeeded. Repeated attacks on the elevated front of Chemin-des-Dames, of special violence, near Craonne, failed with sanguinary losses. Near La Ville-aux-Bois Forest the position became unsuitable, and we established a fortified line at tho rear. New fighting has developed in the Champagne, north-west of Auberive, and was intense during the morning.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Asjn.-Eeutet ENEMY ADMISSION OF FRENCH GAINS. (Bee. April 20, 6.30 p.m.) London, April 19. / A wireless German official message says: There wero several French attacks along the Aisno and the Arne Canal, tho strongest, against Brimont, failed. Our counter-attack in the Champagne compensates for tho enemy gain north-west of Auborive.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Acsn.-Reuter. GUNS CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH NOW TOTAL 228 (Rcc. April 20, 6.80 p.m.) London, April 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We improved our position slightly southward of Monchy-le-Prcux, and further progressed eastward of Fampoux, and in tho trendies south-east of Loos. \ Tho guns captured total 228.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.